Safety device.



C. C. MASON.

SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26. I917.

Patented May 28,1918.

ya W WITJESSES ATTOR N EY SAFETY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Application filed January 26, 1917. Serial No. 144,720.

spec' cation.

This invention relates to improvements in safety devices for preventing accidents at street crossin s.

, The main ob ect of the invention is to provide a reflector to be suitably positioned at a street crossing or crossmgs and so focused as to reflect objects in the street, and especially to permit a vehicle driver to see in said reflector an oncoming vehicle in the cross street before it actually comes into sight and thereby afford ample time for him to avoid it.

Another object is to so construct a device of this character that it may be easily suspended over the center of intersecting streets and be positioned high enough to clear all trafiic.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with thisinvention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated, a reflector especially designed for use at the intersection of streets is shown composed of a substantially rectangular frame in the form of a band 1 carried by a spider 2 having a collar 3 for connecting the device to a support, which support is preferably in the form of a shaft or post, not shown, which passes through said collar and with which the device is held in engagement by-means of a set screw 4.

This spider as shown, has four arms radiating from the collar 3 and arranged at right angles to each other with their free ends bent downwardly and provided with hangers for engaging and supporting-- the band 1. These hangers are constructed by bending the free ends of the spider arms laterally outward as shown at 5 and then upwardly as shown. at 6 to form hooklike hangers in which the lower edge of band 1 is mounted as shown clearly in Fig. 3. Securing clips 7 are carried by the spider arms 2 above the hooks and operate to engage the upper edge of the band 1 for clampingly holding it in engagement with said hooks, as is shown clearly in Fig. 3. These clips are preferably detachably connected with the spider arms 2.

Depending brackets 8 are carried by the band 1, any suitable number of which may be employed, four being here shown, and which are designed to support casings 9 which carry the reflectors. The brackets 8 are arranged obliquely with their lower ends disposed inwardly and are provided with hook-shaped terminals 10 in which are mounted the mirror casin s or frames 9. These casings 9 are prefera 1y composed of sheet metal or other suitable material and are closed at their rear faces and open at their front, the opposite outer edges of which are U-shaped in cross section forming pockets to receive the upper and lower edges of the reflecting devices which are here shown in the form of mirrors 11. These'pockets preferably open toward each other and the outer walls thereof are crimped as shown at 12, with their free edges turned inwardly to form retaining members forthe cement 13 which is placed in said pockets for securing the mirrors rigidly in position. The closed rear wall of the casing is offset outwardly from the ends thereof to provide a chamber 14 to receive the moisture absorbing element 15.

The upper edges of the casings 9 are supported in operative position by means of brackets 16 carried by the bandl and here shown secured thereto by the same bolts which secure the brackets 8. Extending laterally and downwardly from the upper till a to avoid collision therewith.

in Fig l the frame being positioned with the points thereoi in alinement with the longitudinal center of the streets and the a focus points of said mirrors being indicated. 1

From the alcove description it will he obvious that the driver of a vehicle or other person on reaching the intersecting stree at the point over which this reflector is dis posed, may by glancing into one oi? the mirrors thereof observe any approaching vehicle which is still out of sight to the naked eye and hence give him ample time By the use of this device many accidents at street crossings may he avoided and the device may he supported either over the center of the street crossings or at each oi the four corners thereof,

The mirrors constituting the reflecting elements of this device may be either concave convert or rectilinear to obtain the proper focus,

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains and while 1 have described the principle oi operation of the invention together with the device which I now consider to he the best emloodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may he made as are within the sco oe oi the claimed invention.

I claim:

1. A reflector oi the class described comprising a spider having an attaching col lar, a substantially rectangular hand supported by said collar, brackets depending from said hand having their lower ends converging provided with hooks mirror containing casings supported at their lower edges in said hooks, and other brackets carried by said hand and engaging the upper edges of said casings.

2. A reflector or the class described comprising a spider having an attaching collar a substantially rectangular hand supported by said collar brackets depending from said hand and having their lower ends converging and provided with hooks mirror containing casings sup-goorted at their lower edges in said hooks, other brackets carried by said hand and changing the upper of said casings, and light guards or shiel s extending laterally and downwardly irom the upper edges of the casings 3. ii reflector oi the class described comprising a S J 13Zll8l having arms with a collar connecting their inner ends the e oi said arms being hent laterally outward and upward to form hangers, a substan tiallv rectangular hand supported Toy said hangers, brackets depending :trom said hand and having their lower ends hent out= wardly and ulowardly to term hooks,- said.

brackets converging toward their lower ends, securing cli os carried by the free ends said spider arms alcove the hooks and adapted to cooperate to engage the upper edge of said hand for clamping and holding engagement with said hooks, mir ror containing casings supported at their lower edges in the hooks or? said "oraclre and means carried oy said hand for engag ing the upper edges of. said casings.

l, In a device oil the class descrihec'ta the comhination of a supporting. frame, of a rectangular frame carried thereby, each o1? its side walls having its ends converging toward the lower edge thereoi and formed of plate having "pockets on its outer face at its n oper and lower edges, said pockets opening toward each other, a mirror arranged on the outer tace or said plate with its upper and lower edges disposed in said pockets, said plate being ofiset outwardly adjacent said pockets to :torm a chamber at the hack of said nu'rror, and a moisture alosorloer disposed in said chamber.

In testimon; whereof I afiin my signature in presence oi two witness C. (Ell,

ill) 

